Pp. 293-304 in Algorithmic Languages, ed. J. W. de Bakker and J. C. van Vliet. Amsterdam: North-Holland, 1981.
The events of 1959-1960 leading to the development of the programming language ALGOL 60, with special attention to the contributions of Aad van Wijngaarden, are outlined. While Van Wijngaarden contributed actively to the shaping of most of the central concepts of the language, in particular block structure and procedures, his main influence appears to have been in less tangible aspects of discussion manner and mental style.